Controlling electrically-operated machines



Nlzly '18 I926,

1,58%93? H. s. HOLMES CQNTROLLING BLECTRICALLY OPERATED MACHINES Filed 06x. 22, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,584,939 s. HOLMES CONTROLLING ELE TRICALLY OPERATED MACHINES May 1926.

K mw N k? May 18 1926 K 1,584,939

' I H. s HOLMES CONTROLLING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MACHINES Filed Oct. 22, 1924 4Sheet-Sheet 5 .fim g/a. fie/mes.

I to

HENRY S. HOLMES, (321 NEW YQRY N.

BROOKLYN,

., ASIGNOlt T0 THQMAS E. 'MURRAY, OF NEW YORK.

Application filed tletober 22,1924. Serial No. 745,265.

in certain classes o'tmelectric welding, machines and other machines taking large quan tities of electric current, the time required for loading and unloading or otherwise pre-.-

paring the machine for operation is much longerthan the time actually consumed in the operation of the machine. lhese conditions exist noticeably in thehlurray process oi electric welding, described in the Murray Reissue Patent No. 15.4436 of October 1t), 1922, in which a current of extremely high amperage is used for a very brief interval of time For instance, when welding a certain type of axle housing about tire seconds are taken to make the weld and about titty-live seconds to load the parts into the machine and remove the welded product therefrom. in such a case, it the supply of current is only sullicient for operating one welding machine at a time, it would, nevertheless be possible to utilize such a supply for a number of welders provided they were connected up with the supply. one right after the other. 'lhus theoretically, for the case given, twelve welds could be made every minute. The actual possibilities would depend chiefly upon the recuperative ability oi the electric supply system.

My invention aims to provide a controlling method and apparatus by whicha number oi such machines can be operated from a system of insufiicien-t capacity to supply them all at the same time. Provision is made to prevent the operators on the difierent machines from simultaneously taking current for a greater number of machines than the electric system can supply.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention. I

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate in plan and elevation respectively, a switch used on each of. I

the machines with certain Supplementary controlling devices for the switches of the other machines;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the controlling sys tem used for an installation of tour machines where the supply of current is suilicieut for only one at a time;

Fig. 4 is a similar diagram where the supply oiuurrentis suliicicnt to operate two niachincs at a time;

Figs. 5, 6. 7 and 8 illustrate successive itages in the operation 01 the installation of ig. 9 is a diagram of the controlling mechanism for four machines, with a supply sufiicient for only one at a time, with an additional provision to permit the recuperation of the supply between operations of succ'gis sive machines; l

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an alternative control to permit recuperation oi the current.

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a part of the ar rangement illustrated in Fig. 9.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the iron frame or plate 1 on the top of thecasing of the oil switch supports a plate 2 of slate to which are fastened the clips 3 of the switch from one of which the blade 4 is pivoted; the blade being connected by links 5 to the rear end of a switch handle 6 which is pivoted at 7 to an upright on the top of the frame. The end of the switch handle 6 carries a trigger 8 which operates a safety bolt 9 sliding through a bearing 10 on the underside of the handle and adapted to enter a hole 11 in a post fixed onthe frame 1. A pin 12 slides in bearings 13 mounted on the frame and is pressed against the end of the safety bolt 9 by a spring 1-1. The halt 9 is pressed forward by a spring 15 ot greater effective force than the spring 14 so as to hold the safety bolt 9 inplace against the pressure on the pin 12.

The spring 14: bears against a strap 16 past certain contact points 1?,18 and 19 mounted on the traine these contacts serving to control the circuits of the other welding machines in the manner hereinafter described.

Where two or more machines are intended to be used at the same time, additional controls are provided inconnection with the main switch. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a second set of. controls, but it will be understood tliat they are unnecessary where a sin-3;?

v glc machine is to be operated at a time. For

operating two'inachines at a-time; the switch handle 6 carries a strap 20 adapted to make contact with apoint 21 when the main switch 4% is open, and to make contact with the points fixed on the pin 12 and extending laterally-- 22 the contacts upright post on the top o; in

A. locking devio dlo of tho main Q closed ed on an ch frame. i 1.01 the honsolenoid 8 on she main 24, Woon the main mounted in frame of tho a. stationary phingoi' u a inovzioio plunger 28 to which fzsiieno a 1 passing through the stmioimry p Linger 2 adapted to enter a hole 30 in the SWibChl handle 6 when the handle is clown 2.111 the solenoid is, energized. i the rod 29 and miloo; when die so id not A dosivpoo o2 1:121 be 3 11' to the switch hamdio 6 by valves in the dosh-pot omit the oil switch to to retard the opening horo ot' 3-" until after a (ieiiz'iii'a time ""osti'otes the circuits TXLIQiliKWF, i uni PA (101;

:o source of 1 i: no oquippod no. i (minus 4 roiy oi'io i L ihilc 2' L [ho huoriio to poi iii ciozfiing' n i1. it tho ammo Li-"3o th mo forward by its spring, closing "3 ii-cuit' iroivrli the strap 16 am the con- Lz'i z'ofei'i'in the l'E'iiU'iiii'iQ 16"- "id tho oil- "LZiHg i, m iovic. open i '60 mm-iiiinrs.

hnni'ilo d of tho main c 'viich inc which flows until i3;- is broken, as, for i-minpio. by :1 iziiouit in'oniaox', in soiios with Hm oil an iii-h sin-ii as i 'ii in iiim'i-ay A; pil uii'ziy liiiii-nf, I 3 'iiuswim-ii Ewan Ho Uion and 1.11 switch \ILHEHEUi 1, Hi1 oponiiig move-- UHHi i rotm'iiod by Q1!) dashm: 21; tho i: i'oiiipiotely' opoiWL H14: Fo. oiiy bolt 9 wiii Sildc buck into i i-1o :ioio 1i iovkii g the swioi'ii open and. at

sumo Mme, buoziking the ooiihecli The ii iii m in. Hie oioziouis 18 two at :1. time, the pots on each switch rm:

; Ponn Pinon OI 05121 tmo X mots 1f? soiiv'noi oar or about the the strap 20 circuits 05'; the loaves their wishes 311 main switch of Grated. l'iowovoi, the 51x55 olonoids is oiosod their switchc contact 2..

: mid machine. 13 o on I'm 0%? the 11 7113111 and i; opt closed so HHS/L} Figs. 53, 6, 7 and 8 [to ho sin: '0: mo stages in tho starting -1 tvio oi. the voiding maohii 1-5 A and i L-iio opo itor on ioiichiiio Ik .ii'i'i's Lilo {110 pm i move to tho position of Fig. 8' coisiploiingg Loo circuit through iho sole:

oids of tho oiheimm 2 i chines through the pm 5 2i and 20 and the Conductor Sm Tho son-ooh? oti" moohinos B, C and 1') mo Unis moiued 2111!]. \(511' switches iOCkoG. 'fii o vompleto operation (ho swim-ii. for the nmchiiio A is iilHSil mi in Fig. (5. ".lhis oxcopi that iiio Him}; 20 has iiiovoii away from tho cont: 2 21 and i'lm.-- broken tho cirou. Hi1"; tho soionoii of the other mach. PS, leaving iiiom 'ii'oo E0 opm'zii'e.

Now suppose the owmior a machine 13 takes rid of the SWii lover and. pulls in iho sumo m; Fig. .7

cocoons nigger. See Fig. 7. This moves the strap 16 into contact withthe points 17, 18 and 19" and com lstcs the circuit through the other three so snoids; but vclic solenoid of machine A cannot oclvsncc its coro to loci-z the switch, because tho switch has olrcncly hccn opencd. Thus-only rho switches cl machines 6 and. l) are locked. The circuit through chose is completed by Way of the contacts 21* nod 20 and she line 39.

In the complete operation of the swil'ch of machine Byhowcvcr the strap 20 is moved away from the conlacl, 21", Fig. 8. How"- erer; this will not break the circuits through the other solenoids because a puih has been made for the current from lhcso solenoids by the closing of the switch of n'iochinc A. This path is through the cont-acts 17 18 undll)" to the strap 16", thoncc through the conductor 38" to contact poincilii and strap 20" and through the conductor 39 to the other side of the supply switch 35. Thus the circuit will remain closed until the strap 29? is removed from the Contact; points 22, 23 and 24, which occurs whcn the oilswilch of machine A is opened. l lo dosh-pol; is necessary with this arrzm'gcmcnl oi the connections.

Sup osing lhc inking of current to coin linuc y inacliinoll'sl'lcr machine A has lwon restored to in; idlc position. Either of rho inochiucs Q and. ll can ho operated loccnusc of the breaking of rho circuit of their solcnoids nt tho sir-up 2U" of the second nnu-hinc. And when one of the machines C, for cxzunplo, is conncctcd up by the closin of its switch, the olhcr two innchincs A an i) will bc lOLliiid.

In the nrrnngoniont of Fig. 9, we. have uslo UHWLl i'our wl-lding machinos A ll, C and l) on n lly-whccl motor gcncrolor set inwhich a motor operates the gcncrnior through a lly whorl which is gradually brought up to speed so as to nccnnlulnlc lhcrcinn quantity -15 of stored energy to be drawn on by the generator. ln the supposed cnsc, only one welder is lo he opcrotcd at a limo. The equipment of the dil'lorcnt switches is the some as for Fig. 3. lcsidcs arranging lo lock out all othcr wcldcrs than the one which. is To he opcrntcd. l have provided on sddh tionnl lock lo prcrcnt-thu closing of any welding nuu'hinc switch until the motorgcncrator sol has hccnhronght up to speed.

A govcrnor all having :1 shaft all passing through s lixod hcnring 1 is rotated by the.

motor "'oncrntor and raises or lowers o stru p 42 which rogislcrs with conlucl s 4L; and M. When on nioior gcnorstor sot is noi up to H spccd, tlrc strap 4:! bridges rho contacts and closes the circuit; through coinlnctor's 45. -16 and l"! in which is intcrposcd a. solenoid 48, This solcnoid hits a slrnp 4-9 into cng cigoroom with cont-acts 50", 50 and 50 in 13 the circui ls of tho sc'reml switch-locking solenoids 25 25", 25 and 25. The strap 49 has n QOKZL'AQCiLiOB 51 to the return line 47, so first tho liflzing of rho strap energizes the solenoids on rho sovcrsl machines and locks their oil swlichcs.

l Vhcn thc cooler is up to spccd the connection or, is broken, the solenoid l8 dcon-srgizcd, the connection through the sir-op 49 is hrolrcn and the locking solonoids 25"., 25. 25 are (lo-energized and stund in their initial posicions so that tho nuichincs may log operated one at n limo as in conncction with Fig. 3 No dnslnpot is HQW- snry with this governor control.

instead of using a govornor opcrolod by the spccd of the motor gcncrntor, I may conl'rol the operation of tho'nnwhinos and prcvonl; their operation before the current supply is snflicicnt by n dcricc controlled by the current which l'hc lllOiUl' ink-cs: Such $5 on zu'rongcnicnl is shown in Fig. ll). 'lho motor 52 lakes in: currcnt from any suilnhlo source of supply 523 through swilch Bl. ll. drives the shaft of :1 {iv whorl 55 which opornlcs n gcnornior so which supplies currcnt to the line 5? loading; to tho \volding machines. ll 'hcn-lhc motor is running idlc or synchronous spccd ii consnnlcs a small currcnl just sullicicnl lo rovor tho losscs in the motor gcncrstor sci. When (he wcldiug machine is connected to tho gyrncrntm .36, lho currcnilohcn by rho motor o2- will incrcuso many fold. in the circuit supplying currcnt to the motor is a solcnoid 58 carrying n strap 55) adapted, to liridgc lhc coutncls (it) and or and so adjusted that rho no loud current of the motor is not sullicicnil to close thoswitch. lint any increase ovcr this no load current will close the swiich at 59.

Gonduolors ($2 and (ii-l lend "from this switch to line 36 and solenoid &8 respeclivcly, us in Fig. i), so lhut the closing-oi iho switch 59 will lock open the oil swilchcs of all the welding machines except lhc one which has already locon closed and whose consumption of current has caused tho Lf-lus- .ing of the switch 59.

.llhis condition of increased current in the circnil; oi the motor 52 will continue until rho Welding operation has been tcrininnted and the motor generator has lnid runs to get loncl'; n idle synchronous speed, so that it is ncluplcdno supply suliicicntcurrent for the nerd; Welding operation. As soon :is lho oil switch on tho welder which was being used is opcned, its controlling solenoid will lock it, the. pin 29 having bccnprcsscd continuously against the switch handle and this switch well. as izhc olhcrs will be locked until lchc 311M101 generator has cliecled the do But usually the generator 7i l he at such distance from the machines that will be simpler and more economical to use a switch 42 ch :ely connected to the rover-101: and to run the single pair of conductors s and so to the solenoid 48 located near one of the welding: machines.

Similarly :lor Fig. it), the solenoid 58 may be arranged to operate directly on a switch 49 like that of Fig. 9 or the conductors and 63 may be run to a solenoid operating a. contact strap like 49.

It will he understood that the number of contacts 1.7, 18 and 19 and of the contacts 22,

2 and will be increased or diminished acc irdiug to the number of machine erred,

being one less than the total number of such mar lines.

The controls of liigs. and used wherever it is necessary to allow time for the accumulation of energy in the current supply system. as where the source of current is insullicicut to operate a single ma chine to which it is connected or an one of a number of machines to which it is connected continuously. The combination of these controls or governing mechanisms of Figs. 5) and with the interlocking switches is particularly uselul Where we have a motor gem cra'tor or simila accumulative supply systr-ui connected up to a number of machines requiring more current for brief intervals than can be supplied. conliiuuius tly. (i/lien using only one wclrling machine with one circuit breaker and a motor fGflQl'fllOl' with its o\'crnor mechanism, it is appai'ent that the solenoid lock on the circuit breaker will prevent the closing of lilllS generator set is recuperating. l t loci-:5 a switch located in the circuit between the welding min'hine and the generator, and prevents the closing of the switch when the con.- ditions are not right; that is. when the generator is not up to speed; Fig. 11 illusirates the use of the governor for a single welding machine, showing: the elimination of the various controls in Fig. 0; which are uncsscntial when using only one welding machine, but not harmful.

The two conditions undcr which my in; Ycntion isimportant are (1) when the com- 120 may be "mon source of current is msuliicicut to operate all the machines simultaneously and when it is insutlicieut to operate any one of the machines continuously. Under the first condition, means must be provided to prevent more than a certain number of the machines from being operated at one time; and under the second condition, means must be provided to prevent the operation While the. current source is accumulating or recuperating. If the common source is insrrllicint to operate more than one of the machines at one time, and is also insufficient to operate. any one of them continuously,

breaker while the;

then means must be provided for preventing the 'uiltaneous operation and also for permi .ng the nece sary accumulation of en- .idhe switch which is directly controlled by the interlocking mechanism may carry the current consumed by the machines, or it may he a lighter switch carrying only sailicient current to operate a larger switch which is directly in the circuit of the mac chines. Vario equivalent devices may be used for opera .vely connecting or disconnicting the machines, all which I have ineluded in the general expression circuit breakers.

The machines served may be identical with one another or they may be of dillerent types or of different capacities. In special cases they may be arranged in groups, with the sercral machines of each group con trolled by a single switch and locking mechanism, each group corresponding to one of the machines A, ll, C and D referred to above. The supply sy tern, of course must have suliicient capacity for all the machines of any group.

The electric machines referred to herein may be any one of a. great variety; such, "for example, as electric furnaces, slows, irons. toasters, lights. and so forth. The inventiou, however, is particularly designed and especially adapted for use with welding machines and motor generator sets such as are described in my pending application for .l atcnt No. 389,878. In this case, the oil switch which closes the welding circuit is provided with an auxiliary contactor which increases the licld current of the generator. and consequently the voltage oi the generator, (luring the time oi the weld. Thus the generator voltage, even at the end of the weld when the speed of the motor generator set has fallen, may be greater than when the act has fully rcaruperated. This unusual vaniatiou in the supply voltage prohibits the use of the ordinary low roltagc release. and makes particularly valuable the methods described herein in which the current supply available determines the connecting up of the machines irrespective of any variation in the supply voltage.

'lhougzh l. have described with great particularity of detail certain embodiments of my inrcnlion, yet it is not to be understood therefrom that the invention is restricted to the particular embodiments disclosed. Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the invention as defined in the following clai msl What I claim is:

1. Controlling mechanism for a plurality of electric machines served from a common source of current insufficient to operate them all at once, comprising a. circuit breaker for oil cacii innciiinc and means nciusicd by tho closing oi one circuic brculzcr for locking opcu othcrs. i

Controlling mechanism for a plurulilzy or" clcclric machincs scrvcxl from c connnon source oi" current insuliiciont in pel-l c more than a certain number of lhcin at oncc, comprising a circuit breaker for each mucliiuc null moans ncluatcd ivy lilo closing of such ccr'inin number of said circuit lorcnkcrs for locking opcn llic olhcrs.

3. Controlling mcchanism for a plurulily of clccliric muchincs scrvccl from in common zu-cumululirc sour-cc oi currcncinsuliicicnlt to opcrulc an of lhcni continuously, com prising u circui-lv breaker for ouch machine, moans :acluulcri by llifi closing of onc circuit hrcskccior locking open olhcrs and rncuus for keeping all lhc. lu'calicrs l 'Hfl Q(l open uniil lilo currcut supply is suliicicni.

i. rho combination Willi a plurality of clcctric nurchiucs and a common source of currcnt insuillcicnt to opcraic ihcin all of once, oi a controlling mechanism coingirising u circul: breaker for ouch machine and moons aciuuiccl by ciao closing of one circuit breaker for locking opcn others.

5. 'liic combination Willi a plurcliiy oi electric machines cncl s common source of currcnl, insuiiicini to operate chem all at once, ori in conic-oiling mechanism comprising a ciri'cui'c breaker for such machine and menus actual/ xi by size closing of or ccriiiin numhcr of circuit brcclzcrs for locking opcn the of hers. i

6. The combination with s plurulily of clcclric machines and an accumulative source of current insufficient to operate them all cl; once, of a controlling mechanism comprising a circuit brcalrcrfor each machine, means :1 ctunliccl by the closing of one circuit breaker for locking open oclrors and moons for roventing the operation oi iciic machines W on lilo current SIZEJly is insuiiiciont.

7. The combination or a plurclicy o'icleo- Eric welding machines with an sccumulsiivo source for suggplyino current cllcroto circult breaker *ior cs1" rrnschino, moons coluatcd by the closing of ono circuit brooiicr for locking open others and moans for press i sing operation of ilic machines when ilwcuc rent supply is insufiicicnc.

8. The combinucion with c pluroliiy oil electric welding machines, served with current from ii, common source, of or controlling mechanism clicrctlor comprising a circuit;

breaker cucli mochinc and; means ocizu= irked by the closing of one circuit breaker for locking open oclicrs.

9. The combination Willi o plurclzcy of clccizric Wcliling muchincs urruugcd lo iuko a large quantity of curl-cut l'or 2r brici iulcrml of time from a, common source, of conlrolling mechanism thcrc'for comprising a circuit brczu or for each machine and moons uciualccl by the closing of one circuit breaker for locking open others.

10. The combination with an clcctric umchinc of u moior ncncrutor adapted lo aocumulutc cucrgy lictwccu wclrliug operations and rumors for prcvcnling lhc opera tion of tho welding muchinc onlymrhcn tho currcul supply is insufiicicut.

11. The combination with an electric wolding uuichine oil a motor generator adopted to accumulate energy between Welding opcrulions uiul means for prcvcnling ilxc opcr :llion ol' the wcliliug machine only when i-lio current supply is insuilicicnt.

12. The combination with a plurality orf wclrling nmchincs arranged to take a, large quantity of curl-cut for u brief interval of innc, of a motor gcncrutor for supplying currcnl; to sold machines of insuflicicnt capacity to supply all the muchincs at once and adapted to accumulate energy bcbwccn operutions of the nuicliincs, s controlling mechanism for said machines comprising u circuit bififillifil for each machine and means actuirlccl by the closing of one circuit breaker for locking open others and a governing device for preventing the operation of said mu chines when the current. supply is insuf ficicni. v

13. Controlling mcchainisin for a pluruliby of electric machines served from a common source of current insufiicicnt to opcrate them all at once, comprising means actuuicci by the closing ofthc circuit of one machine for locking other machines oui, of opcration.

1 Controlling mechanism for a pluralic3 ofclccaric machines served from a common, source of current insuiilciont to opcruse them all at once, comprising means aciiua-isil. by the closing of the circuits of u certain number of such machines for lock; ing the oihcr machines out of operation.

'15. Controlling mechanism for a pluralioi clcctricmuclnnes served from a common source of current insuflicicnt to operate lzlzcru nil oi; once, comprising means actuated by tho closing of tho circuit of one machine for locking other machines out of o crw'eion'and moans for locking all the mac incs out of operation until the current supply is Sill ficiont.

'- In witness whereof, .li have licrc-unlo signed my name.

. HENRY S. 

